Diabetes Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the Diabetes exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

📋 Diabetes Exam Format at a Glance

175
Questions
240 min
Time Limit
70.00%
Passing Score

📚 Diabetes Topics to Study (114)

✍️ Sample Diabetes Questions & Answers

1. A patient with Type 1 diabetes is starting on an insulin pump. Which insulin type is exclusively used in most insulin pumps?
Rapid-acting insulin (e.g., lispro, aspart, or glulisine)

Insulin pumps use only rapid-acting insulin, delivering small continuous doses for basal coverage and larger boluses for meals.

2. Which enzyme system is used in most modern electrochemical blood glucose test strips?
Glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase

Most modern test strips use glucose oxidase (GOx) or glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) to catalyze the electrochemical reaction that quantifies glucose.

3. When evaluating a patient's diabetes distress, which validated screening instrument is specifically designed for this purpose?
Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS)

The Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) specifically measures emotional burden related to diabetes self-management, unlike general mental health tools.

4. A child with Type 1 diabetes has a blood glucose of 55 mg/dL and is conscious. What is the first action?
Give 15g of fast-acting carbohydrates orally

The 15-15 rule states: give 15g of fast-acting carbs, wait 15 minutes, recheck; oral treatment is first-line for a conscious patient.

5. Which of the following is NOT a symptom of hyperglycemia?
Trembling and diaphoresis

Trembling and diaphoresis (sweating) are classic symptoms of hypoglycemia, not hyperglycemia.

6. The nurse's top goal when a patient with hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (HHNS) is to offer:
Fluid replacement

Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (HHNS) is characterized by extreme hyperglycemia, severe dehydration, and hyperosmolarity. The most critical initial intervention is aggressive intravenous fluid replacement to correct the profound dehydration and restore circulatory volume. This also helps to gradually lower blood glucose levels and improve overall patient stability.

🎯 Free Diabetes Practice Tests

📖 Diabetes Guides & Articles

Your Diabetes Study Path
1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation
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